Automatic vacuum-governor.



P. J. MATCHETTE.

AUTOMATIC VACUUM GOVERNOR.

APPLICATION FILED DE(J.1B, 190a. RENEWED JAN. 22, 1913.

1,071,936. Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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FRANK J. MATCI'IIE'ITE, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

i 1 AUTOMATIC VACUUM-GOVERNOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. atcntcd Sept. 2,1913.

Application filed December 18, 1908, Serial No. 468,109. Renewed January22, 1913. Serial No. 743,655.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, FuANr: J. h'livrcie n'r'rn, a citizen of the UnitedStates. residing at Milwaukee, in the county of h [ib atr kee and Stateof \Visconsin, have invented certain new and useful lnnnovements inAutonuitic Vacuum-(hrvernors, oi which the following is a specification,reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to means for antomatically controlling the supplyof a fluid pressure medium such as steam, to vacuum producing means suchas a pump or aspirator, according to ariations in the vacuum withincertain limits. Its main object is to simplify and improve theconstruction and operation of devices of this class.

It consists in the novel constructimi, arrangement and combination ofparts as hereinafter partieuhirly described and as defined in theappended claims.

In the accompanying d 'awing like characters designate the same parts inboth figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation and partial section on the line 1-1, Fig. 2 ofapparatus embodying the invention; and Fig. 52 a vertical longitudinalsection on the line 2-2, Fig. 1, of the main valve forming a part of theapparatus.

The main valve case 0 having inlet and outlet connections 7) and c forthe fluid pres sure medium which is controlled by the governor and whichoperates acuum produeing nnans such as a pump or aspirator, has betweensaid connections a port and a valve seat (Z. In line with the port andvalve seat the case is formed on the upper side with an opening in whicha removablecap 6 formed with a stuffing box is threaded. A valve 7formed or provided with a stem r passing through and guided in theshifting box, is fitted to said seat and arranged to close against thepressure of the medium it controls toward the inlet 7).

On one side the valve case is provided. with a horizontal bracket or armit having a vertical cylindrical opening adjacent to its outer end. Inthis opening is fitted and secured by a not i the tubular threaded stemof a cylinder or vacuum chamber 7c. This cylinder or chamber is open atits upper end and provided with a removable head or cover Z having acentral flanged opening and an air inlet and outlet at.

This inlet and outlet consists of? one or more openings 4) in the heador cover, surrounded by a rim or flange projecting upwardlyJtrom thecover and protected by a screen 7) and a removable cap (1 which preventthe admission of dust and dirt with air into the cylinder or chamber. A.piston r provided with suitable parking, is fitted in the cylinder orchamber K and has a stem or rod 8 extending upwardly through .and guidedin the flanged opening of the head or cover 7,, and preferably alsodown- I wardly into the tubular stem A lever It pivoted at one end tothe upper end of v the piston rod 3 and pivotally connected at 1 theother end by a link a with the valve case a, engages with the upper endof the i valve stem To insure the opening of the main valve in case thepressure of the medium it controls is insufficient, or the piston rsticks or binds in the cylinder or chamber in. a spring p which tends toforce the piston upward, is inserted in the tubular neck around thelower end of the piston rod 8.

The cylinder or vacuum chamber Z: is connected below the piston '1-through the tubular stem 3/ by a pipe w with auxiliary valve mechanismwhereby conunuuication is established between the lower end of saidcylinder or chamber and a source of. vacuum or the atmosphere, accm'dingto variations within predcterminod limits of the vacuum produced by themedium under the control of the main 'alve For this purpose suitableautomatic mechanism such as that shown in connection with the main valveand its motor in Fig. 1 may be employed. This mechanism comprises acasing 2, closed at the ends by caps 55 and piston valves -l and 5,which are pressed toward each other and the center of the casing 2 andnormally held against a stop 6 by springs 7, the valves being hollow orrecessed and open at their outer ends to receive the springs. The outerends of the springs are seated against flanged followers 8 resting uponthe points of adjusting screws 9 which are threaded in the caps 3.

The casing is Formed with a passage 10 comnlunicating with the enterrecessed ends of the piston valves and connoited by a pipe 11 with asource of vacuum (not shown) which is controlled by the main valve f. Itis also formed with a passage 12 which comnmnieates with the valvechamber through ports 13 and 14- and is connected by the pipe w with thecylinder or vacuum chamber of the main valve motor, and it has one ormore ports 15 opening from the valve cham ber between the valves to theatmosphere.

The valve t is formed with an annularport 16, connected by radialpassages with the spring chamber or recess and adapted to register whenthe valve is moved outward, with the port 13. The valve 5 is formed withan annular port 17 which registers, when the valve is in its innerposition against the stop 6, with the port 14 and constantlycommunicates with the port or ports 15 through one or more longitudinalpassages in the valve.

The apparatus hereinbefore described and constituting the governor,operates as follows: The several moving parts of the apparatus are shownin the positions they occupy when the fluid pressure medium is shut offfrom the vacuum producing means and there is no vacuum acting upon theauxiliary valve mechanism. Under these conditions, when the fluidpressure medium is admitted to the main valve f it will lift. said valvefrom its seat and pass through the case ain the direc tion indicated byarrows 011 Fig. 2, to the vacuum producing means, which will thereuponexhaust air through the pipe 11 and passage 10 from the casing 2 at theouter endsof the valves 4 and 5. When the pres-.

sure on the outer end of the valve 5 is reduced sufiiciently to enablethe atmospheric pressure on the inner end of the valve to overcome thetension of the spring 7, said valve will be moved to the right and closethe port 14;, thereby cutting off communication between the lower end ofthe cylinder 70 and the atmosphere, and when the pressure on the outerend of the valve 4 is reduced sufficiently. to enable the atmosphericpressure on the inner end of the valve to overcome the tension of theassociated spring 7, said valve will .be moved to the left and carry theport 16 into register with the port 13, thereby establishingcommunication through the pipe w, passage 12, ports 13 and 16, passage10 and pipe 11 with the source of vacuum. The air will thereupon beexhausted from the cylinder is below the piston r and said piston willbedrawn down against thetension of the spring '0 and close the main valvef against the pressure'of the medium which operates the vacuum producinmeans. The valve f will remain closed and the vacuum producing meansinoperative until the vacuum or pressure in, the easing 2 on the outerend of the valve 41; is reduced sufficiently to release said Valve andpermit it to be moved back to the right by the spring 7 acting thereon.VVhen this occurs the port 18 is closed and communication between thesource of vacuum and the motor cylinder /c is .cut off. furtherreduction or the vacuum or pressure in the casing2- at the outer ends ofthe valves il and 5, releases the valve 5, permitting it to be movedback to the left by the spring 7 act ing thereon. This brings the port17 into register with the port l t and establishes communication betweenthe lowerend of the motor cylinder 70 and the atmosphere, through thepipe w, passage 12, ports 14 and 17 and ports 15. Thereupon aid will beadmitted to the cylinder 70 below the piston 1 and the atmosphericpressure on the upper side of the piston will be balanced. The pressureof the fluid medium controlled by the valve f, aided by the spring '71will. lift said valve from its seat, and move the piston 1" upward inthe cylinder 713. The pressure medium being thus admitted to the vacuumproducing means, the vacuum will be restored thereby to the limit forwhich the auxiliary valve mechanism or the spring 7 acting upon thevalve t is adjusted. These operations will be automatically repeated asabove explained, and the vacuum producing means will be started andstopped at predetermined limits of the vacuum produced thereby,accordingto the adjustment of the springs? of the auxiliary valvemechanism. By the adjustment of the screws 9, the tension of the springs7 may be varied so that the valve f will be opened and closed atdifferent minimum and maximum pressure limits. Increasing the tension'ofthe spring 7 acting on the valve 5, raises the minimum limit of vacuumat which said valve willbe opened by the spring and release and permitthe opening of the main valve f. Increasing the tension of the spring 7-acting on'the valve 4, raises the maximum limit of vacuum. at which saidvalve will be opened against the pressure of said spring and cause themain valve f to close. In all adjustments of the auxiliary valvemechanism however, the valve 5 should be set to close before the openingof the valve 4, and hence the valve 4t to close before the opening ofthe valve The auxiliary valveinechanism maybe connected directly withthevacuum produc ing means or, with a reservoir, or any part of a systemfrom which air is exhausted by such means. WVh'en the pressure of themediumcontrolled by the main valve fis suflicient,,the spring 4) actingon the'motor piston i may be omitted. Various changes in the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts oi"- the apparatus'may be madewithout departing from the principle and scope of the ini' 'ention.

Iclaimfl 1. In an automatic vacuum governor the combination or a valveadapted .to control the flow o f a pressure medium and'to be opened bythe direct pressure of such medium, a vacuum chamber having a movablepart, a lever connected with said movable part and adapted'to close saidvalve'against the pressure of said medium when a certain degree ofvacuum is produced in said chamber, and means adapted to automaticallyestablish and close communication between said chamber and a source ofvacuum according to variations in the degree of vacuum.

2. In an automatic vacuum governor the combination of a valve adapted tocontrol the flow of a n'essure medium and to be opened by the pressureof said medium thereon, a vacmnu chamber having a movable part, a leverconnected with said movable part and adapted to close said valve when acertain degree of vacuum is produced in said chamber, a spring acting onsaid movable part in opposition to the vacuum and tending to release thevalve, and automatic means adapted to establish and close communicmtionbetween said chamber and a source of vacuum according to variations inthe degree of the vacuum.

3. In an automatic vacuum governor the combination of a valve adapted tocontrol the flow ot' a pressure medium, a vacuum chamber having amovable part connected with said valve and adapted to close the samewhen a certain degree of vacuum is produced in said chamber, andautomatic means adapted to alternately close communication between saidchamber and the atmosphere and open communication between said chamberand a source oil? vacuum and to close communication between said chamberand the source of vacuum and open communication between said chamber andthe atmosphere according to variations in the degree of the vacuum.

4. In an automatic vacuum governor the combination of a valve casehaving a bracket on one side and a stuffing box, a valve seated in said"ase to open with the pressure of the medium which it controls andhaving a stem projecting through said stutling box, a vacuum chambermounted on said bracket and having a movable part, a lever connectedwith said movable part and by a link with said case and adapted toengage with the valve stem and to close the valve against the pressureof the medium which it controls when a certain degree of vacuum isproduced in said chamber, and automatic means adapted to open and closecomu'nlnication between said chamber and a source of vacuum.

5. in an automatic vacuum governor the combination of a valve caseprovided with a bracket projecting therefrom and formed with an opening,a valve seated in said case to close against the pressure which itcontrols and having a stem projecting through one side of the case, avacuum chamber formed with a tubular stem which is fitted and secured inthe owning in said bracket, a piston fitted in said chamber, a leverpivotally connected with the valve case and with said piston andengaging with the stem of the valve, and auxiliary valve mechanismconnected with said tubular stem and adapted to automatically establishcommunication between said chamber and a source of vacuum or theatmosphere according to variations in the degree of vacuum.

(5. In an automatic vacuum governor the combination of a valve casehaving a bracket extending thmicitrom and formed with a cylindricalopening, a valve seated in said case against the pressure oil? themedium which it controls, a vacuum chamber having a protected opening tothe atmosphere and a cylindrical stem which is fitted and secured in theopening oii said bracket, a piston fitted in said chamber between saidstem and the opening to the atmosphere and having a rod passing throughthe wall of the chamber opposite said tubular stem, a lever pivotallyconnected with the valve case and piston rod and engaging with the valvestem, and auxiliary valve mechanism connected with said tubular stem andadapted to automatically establish communication between said chamberand a source of vacuum or the atmosphere according to variations in thedegree of vacumn.

In witness whereot I. hereto allix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK J. M'A'lClllG' TE.

\Vitnesses CHAS. L. Goss, Pnnor S. Kaurnan.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

